APRICOT TREE NAMED &#39;Mac12/54&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apricot variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from controlled crossing of the varieties ‘Bhart’ (not patented), marketed as Orangered™, and an unreleased selection (not patented) which was the result of crossing ‘Cluthagold’ (not patented) and ‘Late Moorpark’ (not patented). The new variety is distinguished from others by the late harvest date and rose/red overcolor of the mature fruit accompanied by mid orange colored firm flesh with high soluble solids content. Fruit of ‘Mac12/54’ matures in early to mid February in Otago, New Zealand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/664,298 filed Jun. 26, 2012, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Prunus armeniaca

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Mac12/54’

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Seedlings obtained from the deliberate crossing of ‘Bhart’ (notpatented), marketed as Orangered™ and an unreleased selection (notpatented) resulting from crossing ‘Cluthagold’ (not patented) and ‘LateMoorpark’ (not patented), in September 2003, were planted out at Clyde,Otago, New Zealand, where the cross was also conducted. In February2008, ‘Mac12/54’ was identified as having potential as a new variety.Later in 2008, ‘Mac12/54’ was asexually propagated by budding onto‘Golden Queen’ (not patented) peach seedlings, the standard apricotrootstock in New Zealand. The resulting trees were planted out at Clydein the Southern Hemisphere winter of 2009, and were subsequently foundto be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the newvariety, ‘Mac12/54’, are stable and transmitted without change throughsucceeding generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Mac12/54’ is characterised by medium sized fruit (80-100 g) withrose/red overcolor with mid orange colored firm flesh with high solublesolids content which mature in early to mid February in Otago, NewZealand. ‘Mac12/54’ is distinguished from a number of other varieties bythe following characteristics:

‘Mac12/54’ is harvested one to two weeks later and has a strongerflavour when compared with fruit of ‘Cluthagold’ (not patented).

The fruit flesh of ‘Mac 12/54’ is finer in texture and deeper in colorthat of ‘F194’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,119) (also known as ‘SouthernCross’), and the skin color is a deeper orange.

The fruit skin color of ‘Mac12/54’ is a deeper orange color with ahigher sheen than that of ‘F168’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,071) (alsoknown as ‘Larclyd’, marketed as Genevieve).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant, fruit,and leaves of the new variety was depicted in colors as nearly true asis reasonably possible to make the same color in illustrations of thischaracter.

FIG. 1 shows a five year old ‘Mac12/54’ tree with fruit.

FIG. 2 shows a ‘Mac12/54’ fruit on the tree.

FIG. 3 shows whole and cut ‘Mac12/54’ fruit.

FIG. 4 shows upper and underside of ‘Mac12/54’ leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a brief description of the new variety with colorterminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society ColourCharts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. The specimens described were grown atClyde, New Zealand. The observations were made of the 2012-2013 seasonson 5 year old mature trees.

-   Tree: Average of approximately 3.0 m tall with a spread of    approximately 2.0 m, medium vigour with an upright to spreading    habit. ‘Mac12/54’ scions are compatible on peach seedlings (‘Golden    Queen’) rootstocks. Tree health is considered to be good under    Central Otago conditions in New Zealand.-   Trunk: Average circumference of a mature trunk, approximately 30 cm    from the graft union, is 285 mm. Trunk color was observed to be near    brown N200B, with reticulate bark texture, and a sparse-medium    density distribution of near greyed yellow 161D oblanceolate    lenticels which averaged approximately 3.0 mm long and 2.0 mm wide.-   One-year-old shoot: Observed in winter were observed to be near    greyed orange 166A in color with near greyed orange 166A, medium    sized bud supports which averaged approximately 4.7 mm in diameter    and 3.3 mm in height. Dormant buds were observed to be ovate,    moderately elongated, near brown 200A in color and approximately 3.4    mm long and 2.0 mm wide.-   Leaves: The leaves examined were fully expanded and harvested from    the central third of growing shoots in summer. The overall shape of    the leaves was observed to be broadly ovate with a moderately obtuse    acuminate tip approximately 7.9 mm long, a truncate base and crenate    margins with a medium undulation, and moderately concave profile in    cross section. Leaves are arranged alternatively and averaged 85.8    mm long and 80.3 mm wide. The color of the upperside was a medium    intensity matte near green 137A, the color of the underside was near    green 137C and the color of the venation was near yellow green 145D.-   Petiole: The average petiole length of fully expanded leaves was    31.8 mm and 1.9 mm in diameter. The upperside of the petioles had a    medium anthocyanin coloration of near red purple 59B and an    underside coloration of near red purple 60A. Petioles were observed    to have between two and three medium sized nectaries close to the    leaf base which had an average diameter of 1.2 mm.-   Flowers: Observations were made at full bloom unless otherwise    stated. Timing of beginning of flowering, 10% flowers open, was    recorded in early September (approximately 7^(th) September), with    full bloom, 90% of flowers open, occurring mid September    (approximately 13^(th) September). The average diameter of a an open    flower with petals pressed flat was 27.0 mm and borne equally on    spurs and one-year old shoots, flowers had a medium intensity    fragrance.-   Corolla: Five petals per flower, with an average length of 11.1 mm    (excluding claw) and an average width of 9.6 mm and a 1.2 mm claw.    The petal shape (excluding claw) was approximately circular with a    smooth but sinuate margin. Petals were white at full bloom.-   Stamens: An average of 26 per flower. Filaments were translucent    white in color, and an average of 7.1 mm long, with near yellow    orange 17C anthers and near greyed yellow 162A pollen. Anthers were    on average 1 mm long and 0.9 mm wide.-   Carpel: Pistals were on average 8.1 mm and the stigma sat at    approximately the same level relative to the anthers.-   Calyx: Five sepals per flower, average length of 6.1 mm and width of    3.3 mm with an acute apex and smooth margin. Colored near red purple    64A.-   Pedicel: Average approximately 5.4 mm long and 3.4 mm wide.-   Fruit: Fruit at horticultural maturity were large in size and    observed to be on average 99 g, with an average height of 56.9 mm,    average lateral width of 58 mm, and an average ventral width of    55.4 mm. ‘Mac12/54’ fruit were symmetric and were circular in    lateral and ventral view with a slightly sunken suture and a retuse    apex. The stalk cavity depth was medium, approximately 6.6 mm. The    skin surface was smooth with minimal pubescence, weak gloss, a    background color of near orange 25B and N25B, and approximately 5%    overcolor colored near orange red N34A made up of isolated spots.    The flesh color was near orange 25B and near orange 25B in the stone    cavity with no whiteness around the stone. The flesh texture was    fine with medium firmness, an average of 2.8 kgf, with a weak    adherence to the stone and average soluble solids of approximately    18.5%.-   Stone: Observations were made on dry stones unless otherwise stated.    Stones were circular in shape, lateral view, with an obtuse apex,    and obtuse base. Stones were on average approximately 32 mm long,    with an average lateral width of 28 mm and colored near greyed    orange 165B.-   Harvest timing: Fruit begin ripening late in the season,    approximately 8^(th) February in Clyde New Zealand.-   Use: Fresh eating-   Pest and disease: ‘Mac12/54’ has no known particular tolerances or    susceptibilities to pests and diseases associated with apricot    trees.

1. A new and distinct apricot plant substantially as herein illustratedand described.